MIL Asia Pacific Publishing Engine

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

The Education Bureau (EDB) today (July 9) announced the completion of the selection process for the fifth cohort of the School Nominations Direct Admission Scheme (SNDAS).

A total of 847 valid SNDAS nominations were received from 433 secondary schools for the fifth cohort. In the past few months, the eight University Grants Committee (UGC)-funded universities participating in the Scheme conducted interviews with the nominated students and carefully considered their individual merits. Direct admission offers were eventually issued to 325 nominees prior to the release of the 2026 Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) Examination results, of which 319 students accepted the offers and will commence study on their chosen UGC-funded undergraduate programmes in September 2026. A breakdown on the offers accepted by students in various disciplines of study is provided in the Annex.

To promote a culture of multifaceted excellence, the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau has launched the Multi-talent Development Scholarship (MDS) in the 2025/26 academic year, funded by the Board of Management of the Chinese Permanent Cemeteries, for admittees of the SNDAS demonstrating outstanding achievements in arts, sports and/or community service on top of the firm offers made under the SNDAS.
 
Among the students being formally admitted to their respective universities under the SNDAS, each of the eight UGC-funded universities will be invited to nominate SNDAS admittees demonstrating an outstanding performance in arts, sports and/or community service for awarding scholarships in addition to the firm offers made. The quotas of scholarship nominations will be distributed proportionally having regard to the number of students admitted to each university by the SNDAS. Each awardee, not subject to means testing, will be granted a scholarship of $10,000 per year across his/her four-year tuition period. Universities shall enjoy the autonomy to select and nominate awardees for the MDS.

The sixth cohort of the SNDAS will be open for applications by Secondary Six students taking the 2027 HKDSE Examinations and commencing their undergraduate studies in September 2027. Application details will be announced in due course.

The SNDAS was introduced in 2021 as part of the EDB’s response to the recommendations made by the Task Force on Review of School Curriculum, which included enhancing flexibility in university admissions. The eight UGC-funded universities designated over 300 publicly funded undergraduate programmes for the fifth cohort of the SNDAS and set admission criteria that are not based on HKDSE Examination results for individual programmes.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA response to European Parliament recommendation supporting deeper Taiwan-EU cooperation and reiterating importance of cross-strait peace and stability

July 9, 2026  Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung warmly welcomes a recommendation adopted by the European Parliament on July 7 on the changing geopolitical situation in East Asia and the need for closer cooperation with like-minded partners in the region. The document urges the European Union to deepen cooperation with democratic partners such as Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea; reiterates the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait; and opposes any actions that unilaterally change the status quo through force or coercion. Minister Lin expresses his sincere appreciation to the European Parliament for continuing to take concrete action in support of Taiwan.The recommendation notes that Taiwan is a trusted and key democratic partner of the European Union in East Asia and that peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea are of significant strategic interest to the European Union, as well as vital to global security and prosperity. It advises the European Union to enhance cooperation with like-minded partners, including Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, and ASEAN countries. Building on such existing mechanisms as the trade and investment dialogue, it recommends that the European Union and Taiwan establish a comprehensive and structured cooperation framework. At the same time, the text backs Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations and technical forums, calls to uphold freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait, and encourages members of the European Parliament to bolster parliamentary diplomacy with Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan.The recommendation once again underscores the importance that the European Parliament attaches to Taiwan and cross-strait peace and stability. It also marks another substantive expression of staunch support for Taiwan, following the 2023 resolution on EU-Taiwan trade and investment relations, the 2024 resolution on the misinterpretation of UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 by the People’s Republic of China and its continuous military provocations around Taiwan, and the 2025 annual reports on the implementation of the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy and Common Security and Defence Policy.Taiwan will continue to strengthen cooperation with the European Union and like-minded partners to jointly safeguard peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region, collectively defend the rules-based international order, and actively make further contributions to global peace, security, and prosperity.Related Link: Recommendation on the changing geopolitical situation in East Asia and the need for closer cooperation with like-minded partners in the region.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

On the afternoon of July 8, President Lai Ching-te met with Setaka Tetsuo, Mayor of Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. In remarks, President Lai stated that Taiwan and Japan are important partners who support each other, and continue to deepen cooperation in areas such as trade and the economy, technology, culture, and tourism. The president expressed hope that Taiwan and Nikko City can build on an already solid foundation to create even more cooperative achievements so that local exchanges can become an important driving force in the steady development of Taiwan-Japan relations.
A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows:
This is the first time since taking office last year that Mayor Setaka has led a group of Nikko City citizens to visit Taiwan, which makes it all the more meaningful. Whether as president or former mayor of Tainan, I have always eagerly looked forward to these visits. Tainan and Nikko City have a deep and precious friendship, having established an official “tourism-friendly city” relationship back in 2009. During my term of office as mayor of Tainan, following the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, I led a delegation to Nikko City to support local tourism. In 2014 Nikko City also organized a delegation to reciprocate by visiting Taiwan. City residents also launched fund-raising campaigns after the 2016 Tainan earthquake and the 2024 Hualien earthquake to assist Taiwan in post-disaster reconstruction. I would like to express my most sincere gratitude.
Taiwan and Japan have long worked together to address challenges such as typhoons, earthquakes, and epidemics as important partners who support each other. Both sides have actively expanded cooperation in areas such as trade and the economy, technology, culture, and tourism. Last year, total Taiwan-Japan trade exceeded US$84.8 billion, 17.36 percent higher than the year before that, and more than 8.21 million visitors traveled between Taiwan and Japan, a historic high.
I am sure that after Mayor Setaka’s visit, Taiwan and Nikko City can build on our already solid foundation to create even more cooperative achievements so that local exchanges can become an important driving force in the steady development of Taiwan-Japan relations.
Mayor Setaka then delivered remarks, saying that the previous day he led approximately 80 Nikko City residents and tourism industry representatives to visit Tainan, and that Nikko City and Tainan have had a “tourism-friendly city” relationship for 17 years. Following the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011, President Lai, then-mayor of Tainan, led 300 Tainan residents to Nikko City to support the local tourism industry, something that Nikko City residents remember to this day, and for which they are deeply grateful.
Mayor Setaka stated that last year Tainan was struck by an earthquake as well as a typhoon, and this year he is leading Nikko City citizens on a special visit to Tainan again, hoping to provide mutual encouragement and support. He also expressed hope of continuing cooperation with Tainan in the future and jointly promoting tourism, sports, culture, and economic exchanges, thereby deepening our bilateral relationship.
The visiting delegation also included Nikko City Council Chair Wada Kiminobu.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA response to attack on media figure Akio Yaita by Chinese resident of Hong Kong

Date：2026-07-06
Data Source：Department of Policy Planning

July 6, 2026  

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) strongly condemns the attack on veteran media figure Akio Yaita in Taichung on July 6 by a Chinese resident of Hong Kong. The incident highlights China’s transnational repression of individuals worldwide and efforts to expand its authoritarian influence through violence. 
 
MOFA reiterates that the Chinese government’s barbaric use of transnational repression to intimidate, harass, and interfere with the citizens of Taiwan and other countries violates international human rights, infringes on the sovereignty of nations, and brazenly crosses the bottom line of the rule of law. Such actions are absolutely unacceptable.
 
The attack marks the first instance of China engaging in transnational repression through violence since enacting the Ethnic Unity and Progress Promotion Law. MOFA further calls on the international community to jointly oppose China’s transnational repression and challenge its unprincipled legislation and violent behavior.
 
MOFA will continue to coordinate closely with relevant government agencies and the international community on associated measures, strengthen the emergency response and assistance mechanisms of overseas missions, and enhance cooperation with other countries so as to ensure the safety of nationals traveling abroad and foreign citizens in Taiwan.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MOFA response to China’s test-firing of a strategic missile into Pacific

Date：2026-07-06
Data Source：Department of Policy Planning

July 6, 2026  
 
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemns China for its July 6 launch of a strategic missile into the Pacific Ocean, an act that undermined regional peace and stability and provoked international concern. 
 
At a time when the international community is striving to maintain global peace and security, China has disregarded the need for regional stability and continues to engage in actions that threaten the peaceful status quo. 
 
In recent years, China has persistently used gray-zone tactics such as military intimidation, economic coercion, and cognitive warfare in an attempt to unilaterally change the status quo in the Indo-Pacific. This has increased regional tensions and posed a serious challenge to the rules-based international order. China’s test-firing of a strategic missile underlines that using military deterrence as a political tool does not benefit regional peace and stability but rather increases concern about China’s expansionism among nations in the region.
 
MOFA stresses that upholding peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific is a common interest of global concern. Any unilateral escalation of tensions, disruption of the status quo, or military intimidation of other countries is inconsistent with international expectations and the interests of related countries. It also runs counter to the United Nations Charter, which calls for the peaceful settlement of disputes. China should remain rational and restrained and avoid behaviors that increase the risk of miscalculation or jeopardize regional security. 
 
As a responsible member of the international community, Taiwan will continue to work closely with like-minded nations to jointly uphold peace, stability, and prosperity in the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

June 2, 2026  No. 248  International support for Taiwan’s participation in the World Health Organization (WHO) has remained strong despite the WHO decision—in contravention of its principle of leaving no one behind—to yield to pressure from China and exclude the 23 million people of Taiwan from the 79th World Health Assembly (WHA), which concluded on May 23. 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and its overseas missions made concerted efforts to maintain global backing. For this year’s WHA, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung led a Taiwan public healthcare team to Geneva to host the Taiwan Smart Medical and HealthTech Expo. Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-liang also traveled to Switzerland for the occasion, marking the first time that Taiwan’s minister of foreign affairs and minister of health and welfare jointly promoted Taiwan’s bid in Geneva.

Formed by representatives of 30 leading domestic healthcare facilities and businesses, the public healthcare team showcased Taiwan’s innovation capabilities, smart technology, and resilience and gave the international community a more comprehensive understanding of the contributions that Taiwan can make to public health.

Attracting 1,300 visitors, the expo facilitated talks between Taiwanese participants and 683 foreign buyers. The value of preliminary orders reached US$1.2 million, and US$6.71 million in other potential business opportunities were identified, making the event a great success. 

In Geneva, Minister Lin interacted with delegates from allies and like-minded countries to cultivate support for Taiwan. One week before the opening of the WHA, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Baushuan Ger also visited the city, where he met with the WHA representatives of 14 diplomatic allies and friendly countries to gain their endorsement.

MOFA sincerely appreciates all the backing it has received from the international community. The 11 diplomatic allies of Taiwan that are WHO members submitted proposals and spoke up for Taiwan at the WHA. In particular, Haiti, Belize, Palau, and Paraguay engaged in two-on-two debates with China and its allies at the WHA General Committee and plenary session. Furthermore, 15 like-minded countries championed Taiwan’s bid, including Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Estonia, Luxembourg, Sweden, Latvia, and Israel. The European Union (represented by Cyprus) also extended support. 

As China and its allies continued to distort United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution 2758 and WHA Resolution 25.1 at the WHA, Haiti, Palau, Saint Christopher and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Belize publicly and strongly refuted such claims, emphasizing that the resolutions had nothing to do with Taiwan and could not serve as basis for precluding Taiwan’s participation in WHO or the UN system. At the plenary session on May 22, the Japanese delegation also openly contested China’s misrepresentation of UNGA Resolution 2758. 

To express staunch support for Taiwan’s participation in WHO and the WHA, the representative offices in Taiwan of nine countries—Japan, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Poland, and Lithuania—issued a joint statement during the WHA. Moreover, the executive and legislative branches of government of over 50 countries also advocated for Taiwan through social media, letters, and resolutions. These efforts were spearheaded by US Permanent Representative to the UN Michael Waltz; former US Permanent Representative to the UN Nikki Haley; Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard; Spanish Cochair of the Formosa Club Eloy Suárez and 39 club members; the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office of the United Kingdom; and the European Parliament. Internationally renowned healthcare organizations, such as the World Medical Association and the Standing Committee of European Doctors, as well as professional medical organizations and healthcare professionals from Europe, Asia, and Latin America, submitted letters to the WHO director-general on behalf of Taiwan and issued public statements. 

Meanwhile, to further aid Ukraine in public health, Taiwan’s International Cooperation and Development Fund and Malteser International, the international humanitarian relief agency of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, signed a letter of intent for cooperation during the WHA on rehabilitation and psychosocial support programs for amputees in Ukraine. The signing ceremony was witnessed by Minister Lin. Through this initiative, Taiwan will assist with training 250 healthcare professionals, including prosthetists, physical therapists, and psychotherapists in Ukraine, helping 3,000 amputees and their families with physical rehabilitation and psychological recovery and demonstrating that humanitarianism knows no borders. 

A cross-party delegation of legislators comprising Liao Wei-hsiang, Kuo Yu-ching, and Chen Gau-tzu traveled to Geneva this year to demonstrate to the international community through concrete action that the Taiwan government’s WHO bid enjoyed strong backing from across the political spectrum and the public. 

Furthermore, around 150 people from Taiwanese communities and student groups overseas gathered in Geneva to hold exhibitions, organize marches and parades, and participate in forums and international seminars, bolstering the government’s efforts and highlighting Taiwan’s appeal and determination to participate in WHO and the WHA.

Through the active coordination and arrangements of MOFA and its overseas missions, a total of 443 media contributions were published. These included articles by Minister Shih and overseas missions in international media outlets, interviews with heads of missions, and supportive columns and commentaries by scholars and experts. Videos for this year’s WHA bid and the Taiwan Smart Medical and HealthTech Expo received more than 429,000 views. MOFA and its overseas missions made a total of 1,695 posts in multiple languages on such social media platforms as Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and X, reaching over 1.2 million views. 

This year in Geneva, Taiwan successfully adopted new approaches in its international engagement through positive, active, and creative outreach. Besides creating opportunities overseas for Taiwanese enterprises, our efforts have ensured that the international public health community was fully aware that excluding Taiwan from WHO would be detrimental to all mankind. These efforts fully exemplified the integrated diplomacy policy, encompassing the aspects of values-based diplomacy, alliance diplomacy, and economic diplomacy. 

MOFA will continue to leverage cross-agency cooperation and public-private efforts to inject further momentum into Taiwan’s WHO bid. It will also work with global partners to advance the health, well-being, and the right to health of all of humanity. (E)

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

July 3, 2026  No. 307  The Taiwan government has decided to establish the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Phoenix, Arizona, to enhance services for Taiwan businesses and overseas compatriots in the United States and promote bilateral investment. Preparations are currently underway. 
 
Taiwan and the United States continue to deepen cooperation and exchanges in trade, technology, education, and supply chains. Phoenix, the capital of Arizona, is an important and rapidly growing city in the southwestern United States. As Taiwan’s semiconductor manufacturers and related supply chain companies continue to expand their investments in the area, Phoenix has progressively developed into a sizeable and strategically significant technology industry cluster. It has become a vital hub for Taiwan and the United States to jointly build reliable and highly resilient technology industry supply chains.
 
The decision by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) to establish an office in Phoenix is based on the new Taiwan-US high-tech industrial cooperation landscape, the increasing number of Taiwan enterprises and overseas compatriots in Arizona and surrounding areas, and the ever-closer interactions between Taiwan and various US state and municipal governments. 
 
Moving forward, the Phoenix office will help bolster ties between Taiwan, the state government of Arizona, and the municipal government of Phoenix. The new office will respond promptly to the investment and operational needs of Taiwan companies and promote bilateral cooperation in such domains as the economy, trade, technology, supply chains, culture, education, and people-to-people exchanges.
 
The Phoenix office will also provide more convenient consular services to overseas compatriots, Taiwan nationals, and Taiwan enterprises in Arizona and New Mexico. Once established, it will become Taiwan’s fourteenth office in the United States. Taiwan’s existing offices are located in Washington, DC, New York, Boston, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Seattle, Houston, Chicago, Honolulu, Denver, Miami, and Guam.
 
MOFA will continue to work with the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States and its other US offices, building on solid foundations to further the mutually beneficial Taiwan-US partnership and promote exchanges and industrial cooperation at the local level. (E)